Via Zeenews.com: Japanese Encephalitis Syndrome claim 674 lives. Excerpt:
With 3,803 cases of Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome reported from across the country this year, the deadly virus has so far claimed 674 lives.
Of the total 674 deaths till August 9, the Health Ministry officials said the maximum of 275 have taken place in Bihar, followed by 193 in Assam and 147 in Uttar Pradesh. There have also been 37 deaths in Tamil Nadu and 15 in West Bengal due to the virus.
After the repeated outbreak of the virus every year, the Union Health Ministry has identified 171 districts in the country which are affected with Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. Sixty of them are high priority affected districts in the five states of Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
As per Health Ministry data, there were a maximum of 1,169 deaths due to the virus in 2011, 679 in 2010 and 774 in 2009. Uttar Pradesh had the maximum of 579 deaths in 2011, while Assam had reported 250 deaths and Bihar 197.
